The use of technology is pervasive in
contemporary society transforming lives and work environments. The internet and the availability of portable
personal communication devices have resulted in immense societal change. Frequently held views of the relationship
between individuals and technology are dominated by a production-centric perspective,
with limited attention being paid to the social and environmental impacts of
consumption. Elevated by improvements in
information communication technologies and infrastructure, telework was heralded
as an innovative way of working with the added potential of reducing travel
demand. But early optimistic
expectations failed to materialise, largely due to a poor understanding of
social, political, and personal issues involved. This paper presents an examination of telework
in Ireland and argues for a more holistic approach to investigation. Before telework can be accepted as a
potential benefit to the sustainable consumption of distance the environmental
consequences of changes in working practices must be understood. Researching an organisation with a telework
culture this paper investigated the environmental impacts of individuals
working from home. Teleworkers reported
no increase in water and other goods consumption, and no additional travel
needs. However, they felt they increased
their domestic food and energy consumption, and produced more waste working
from home.